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PHOTOGRAPHY EFFECTS IN LENS (PART 5: USE EXTREME BLUR AND BOKEH TO ADVANTAGE)

August.08.2011 · Posted By - Paul

One way to draw attention to a subject is to utilize a low depth of field (DOF). Shallow DOF allows a small amount of focus while casting everything else into blur. Shallow DOF is usually accomplished by opening the aperture on your camera (low aperture numbers). By utilizing low DOF you can often raise the quality of your photos significantly.

Here are two photos that show shallow DOF in operation. The first image was taken at about f/4.0 and allowed me to place focus on the center chess piece. In post I also subtracted color from everything except the central figure. The second photo of my niece was taken with a 50mm prime set to f/1.8.

In the following image by Shane Moss blur is total over the entire photo. No single subject is in focus. In this case the image represents in an abstract or implied sense something left to the imagination.

Bokeh is associated with the way a camera renders out of focus points of light. This effect can be used to present aesthetic image presentations.

Below are a number of photos that were taken out of focus to present these particular patterns. They were taken at Christmas by myself and Shane Moss whose work can be found on flickr.

Both Shane and I played with different bokeh patterns by using special cutouts in front of the lens. The shape of the bokeh would match the shape of the cutout. By default bokeh patterns tend to be hexagonal or octagonal to match the shape of a camera aperture.

In the photos below we were able to play with bokeh as abstract or non-representational patterns.